Coroner not involved, and no apparent ties to Ashley Mullis

Police spent much of Wednesday afternoon and evening investigating this house at 311 S. Council St. but were tight lipped about the circumstances surrounding the investigation.(Photo: Kurt Hostetler/The Star Press)Buy Photo

MUNCIE – The Delaware County coroner's office was not part of a Wednesday evening police investigation at a downtown Muncie house.

Although authorities are being cautious in what they say about the investigation - apparently to follow up leads on the June 16 disappearance of 25-year-old Dunkirk woman Brianna DiBattiste – County Coroner Scott Hahn told The Star Press on Thursday morning that his office is not involved, which would give a clear indication that no human remains have been found in the 300 block of South Council Street.

We are not involved at all with anything going on there," Hahn said. "I have not been officially notified by anybody at that scene."

Officials have also said that there is no indication that the search has any connection to the 2013 disappearance of Delaware County resident Ashley Morris Mullis.

Delaware County sheriff's investigator Kurt Walthour is leading the investigation into the disappearance of Mullis, a 28-year-old mother of three children who was last seen on Sept. 19.

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Police continue to investigate a home at 311 S. Council St., Thursday morning. The search is connected with Brianna DeBattisste who went missing in June.

Authorities confirmed on Wednesday the search of the Council Street house was tied to the search for 25-year-old Brianna DiBattiste, who was last seen by her family on June 16.

Walthour on Thursday confirmed he spoke Wednesday with Albany Police Chief Shannon Henry, who is leading the DiBattiste investigation.

"We haven't heard anything that was Mullis-related," the county investigator said.

Walthour said he was aware Mullis' parents were at the scene of the Council Street search – prompting speculation about a connection to their daughter's case - and said he had spoken with them in recent hours.